Skip to Main Content

Architects

Basic Biographic Details

Thomas Brown II
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
23/08/1872
Thomas Brown was the third son of the architect/builder Thomas Brown of Uphall (d.1833) and his first wife Janet Neil who had married in Edinburgh. Their first son, James (1800-45) became a Writer to the Signet. The second son, Robert, signed Thomas's death certificate in 1872 when Robert was living in Hampshire. There was another son, John, and a sister, Margaret. After the death of his first wife, Thomas Brown senior re-married Janet Ewing in January 1827 and had two further daughters, Wilhelmina Caroline Brown (1828-75) and Henrietta Margaret Brown who married John Deas in 1851.

Thomas was articled to his father and probably spent some time in the office of William Burn as an improver, some of his early houses being very much in Burn's style. In 1837 he was appointed architect to the Prison Board of Scotland and by 1838 had an office at 3 North Charlotte Street.

In 1814 the elder Brown was responsible for a 'new addition' (including a new dining room) at New Saughton or Cammo, Midlothian for James Watson, in 1827-30 he designed additions for Ormiston Hall, East Lothian for the 5th Earl of Hopetoun and in 1828-9 he altered and repaired Over Rankeillour House, Fife for General Sir Alexander Hope. Early in the 1830s either he or his son worked for William Adam at Blair Adam in Kinross-shire where he designed the Memorial (1833) and various gates and lodges, Temple Church, Midlothian was built in 1832 to the designs presumably of the elder Brown and the younger one altered Carrington Church, Midlothian in 1836. The latter is commemorated in Uphall churchyard.

In 1849 Thomas Brown II entered into partnership with James Maitland Wardrop. Wardrop was born in London on 16 March 1824, the son of James Wardrop MD, surgeon to George IV, and Margaret, widow of Captain Burn RN and daughter of George Dalrymple of North Berwick. He had been an apprentice to Brown prior to being taken into partnership. The practice of Brown & Wardrop was based at 19 St Andrew Square.

Wardrop gradually took over the design work relating to Brown's position as architect to the Prison Board of Scotland, his style and planning being closely based on that of David Bryce, in whose office he may have spent some time.

Brown's wife was Helen Neill whom he married in 1849; his daughter Janetta (Helen Janetta Julia Margaret) was born on 23 September 1853 and died on 4 February 1860 at 27 Royal Terrace. On 28 September 1853 Wardrop married Anna Maria, 5th daughter of James Dundas, 24th and last of Dundas, a financially unsuccessful inventor, at Dundas Castle. This widened the already extensive landed connections he had inherited from his mother. Much of his practice consisted of country house work; he also rebuilt a large number of country parish churches in a distinctive early decorated style.

Brown died on 23 August 1872 at 32 Royal Terrace, (his will was registered on 21 March 1873), Charles Reid becoming a partner shortly thereafter. He was survived by his wife Helen Neill who died on 18 September 1886. The chief assistant Charles Reid, who had been chief draughtsman in the firm and was a brother of A & W Reid of Elgin, was then taken into partnership, although the practice does not seem to have adopted the title of Wardrop & Reid until 1874.

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
3 North Charlotte Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessBefore 1838Before 1849
19 St Andrew Square Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessBefore 1849c. 1872
Currie House Gorebridge Midlothian ScotlandPrivate/business1867

Employment and Training

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):

Employers2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
Thomas Brown I200145Before 1833Before 1837Apprentice
William Burn200136Before 1837Before 1837Improver
Brown & Wardrop200149In year 18491872 or 1873Partner

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
Robert Reid Raeburn100296c. 1835c. 1841Apprentice
James Maitland Wardrop200053c. 1839c. 1844Apprentice
James Maitland Wardrop200053c. 1844In year 1849AssistantPartner after 1849

Buildings and Designs

This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2 classic

Building NameDate StartedTown, District or VillageIslandCity or CountyCountryNotes
Temple Church amd session houseIn year 1830TempleMidlothianScotland
St Nicholas Parish ChurchIn year 1832UphallWest LothianScotland
Blair AdamIn year 1833Kinross-shireScotlandMemorial (and various gates and lodges in 1830s)
Carrington ChurchIn year 1838CarringtonMidlothianScotlandTall Y-traceried windows inserted
Elgin PrisonIn year 1839MorayshireScotland
Haugh farmhouse and officesBefore 1839NewlistonFife/EdinburghScotland
Sighthill FarmhouseIn year 1840ArgyllScotland
General PrisonIn year 1841PerthPerthshireScotlandReconstruction of French Prison as General Prison
Calton PrisonIn year 1841EdinburghScotlandDebtor's block
Stonehaven PrisonIn year 1841StonehavenKincardineshireScotland
Luffness HouseIn year 1841DremEast LothianScotlandNew west front
Town and County Buildings and prisonIn year 1842NairnNairnshireScotlandAddition of large prison wing
Dingwall Prison, Sheriff Court and Police StationIn year 1842DingwallRoss and CromartyScotlandCourthouse. Prison situated at rear of 1864 building
Calton PrisonIn year 1842EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Dornoch Prison and former drill hallIn year 1842DornochSutherlandScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Colvin, H MA Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18401995New Haven and London: Yale University Press3rd editionUnder Thomas Brown I
Scotlands People WebsiteWills & TestamentsEdinburgh Sheriff Court Wills SC70/4/143; SC70/1/161; Brown's wife: Inventories SC70/1/253 and Wills SC70/4/221
Johnston, W TArtists of Scotland2003Officina Publications CDROM

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
Manuscript CollectionNational Library of Scotland100064MS354 B & C
OPR (Register of births)HM New Register House200064See RHP21327-21849 for plans of prisons.
Prison Commisssioners Minute BookNational Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)200521
Information from Steve Robb (from Scotland's People website)Steve Robb200842